Grounding and sinking of large private motor yacht Isamar
Location: Off Grand écueil d'Olmeto, Corsica.
Accident Investigation Report 9/2014
Investigation report into marine accident including what happened and safety lessons:
(328.86 kb)
Summary
On 17 August 2013 the privately owner motor yacht Isamar grounded off Grand écueil d’Olmeto, Corsica. The three crew were unable to halt the flooding, but were able to abandon the vessel with the eight passengers before Isamar foundered in 55 metres of water.
Safety lessons
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Isamar’s master relied on an ECS with electronic charts that were set to the wrong scale, unsuitable for the intended voyage and out of date as the primary means of navigation
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had appropriate, updated charts been available on board, Isamar‘s master could have prepared a passage plan which would have enabled him to ensure that the intended route was suitable for Isamar’s draught
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the standard marine emergency procedure of isolating damaged areas by closing watertight doors were not applied
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flooding was not contained by closing the watertight door between the lazarette and the engine room, and pumping capability was not used to best effect
Published: 9 April 2014